COVID-19 & Healthcare

Expanded Medicaid (AHCCCS) is the best option

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The centrist Grand Canyon Institute think tank released a new report last week on the exanded Medicaid (AHCCCS) provisions of "ObamaCare." Press release from the grandcanyoninstitute.org:

Medicaid Expansion: General Fund Saves $1.2 Billion with 21,000 Jobs Created

The Grand Canyon Institute has released a comprehensive evaluation of the options that Governor Jan Brewer has regarding Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act in light of the recent Supreme Court decision National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius.

The Study recommends expanding Medicaid coverage to 133 percent of the federal poverty line. By qualifying for higher federal matching funds, that expansion authorized under the Affordable Care Act over the first four years of implementation would save the state’s general fund $1.2 billion over complying with the 2000 citizen initiative “Healthy Arizona” which raised Medicaid eligibility to 100 percent of the federal poverty line.

The report’s author, Dave Wells, the Grand Canyon Institute’s Research Director noted, “by increasing Medicaid coverage to 133 percent of the federal poverty line, the state would reap huge economic benefits. Compared to current policy, it would add 21,000 jobs created compared to 15,000 jobs created by following 100 percent of the Federal Poverty line.  The 21,000 jobs would reduce the state’s unemployment rate by 0.7 percent, and increase economic growth in the state during the first year of full implementation by nearly 1 percent.”

The usual suspects are opposed to expanded Medicaid (AHCCCS)

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Oh, here we go again . . . the usual suspects in the Arizona legislature are threatening to harm the poor and the sick out of ideological extremism against President Obama and blind hatred for his "ObamaCare," and the poor and sick generally.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports AHCCCS expansion on the ropes after federal matching funds decision:

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Dec. 10 that states won’t get extra federal money to expand their Medicaid programs unless they implement the full expansion enshrined in the Affordable Care Act. The health care law dramatically increases the federal matching funds available to states that expand Medicaid coverage to include people earning up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

For Arizona, where many had hoped to get the enhanced federal matching funds to restore Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System coverage to 100 percent of the federal poverty level, the federal announcement was a gut check.

The White House Honors World AIDS Day 2012

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie: From the White House blog, The White House Honors World AIDS Day 2012: Today, December 1, 2012 is World AIDS Day. Every year on this day,  the world comes together to stand with people affected by HIV/AIDS, to remember those we have lost and to renew our commitment to ending the pandemic once and for … Read more

U.S. Supreme Court allows challenge to Affordable Care Act

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed
an appeal by Liberty University to go forward with new challenges to two key
sections of the new federal health care law — the individual and
employer mandates to have insurance coverage. Lyle Denniston reports at SCOTUSbog,
Way cleared for health care challenge (UPDATED):

The Court did so by returning the case of Liberty University v. Geithner
(docket 11-438) to the Fourth Circuit Court to consider those
challenges.  The Court last Term had simply denied review of Liberty
University’s appeal, but on Monday wiped out that order and agreed to
send the case back to the appeals court in Richmond for further review.

* * *

The Court’s decision last Term on the new health care law upheld,
under Congress’s power to tax, the requirement that virtually all
Americans have health insurance by 2014, or pay a penalty.   That is the
individual mandate.  The law also contains a somewhat similar mandate,
requiring all employers with more than fifty employees to provide them
with adequate insurance coverage.  The Court had declined to rule on
that issue last Term.

Gov. Brewer rejects state-run insurance exchange, unwittingly hastens single payer system

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Rejecting advice from health-insurance companies, hospitals, business groups, consumer groups, an editorial opinion in the Arizona Republic(an), and quite probably Arizona's shadow governor, Chuck Coughlin, Governor Jan Brewer decided that she would rather rage against the machine of the big, bad federal "guvmint" and "ObamaCare," because that is how she personally benefits from her "star" status in the "conservative entertainment complex," as David Frum calls it.  Sell some more books, grab some more speaking fees, and pull in some more donations to JanPAC. She is cynical and pathetic.

She is also a coward. Brewer would have had to obtain approval from the GOP-dominated legislature that is just as cynical and unhinged about "ObamaCare" as she is. Brewer’s spokesman, Matthew Benson, acknowledged the odds of the Legislature approving a state-based exchange “appeared to be dim at best.” Well, you're not so tough after all, are you Guv? So much for that "Scorpions for Breakfast" bullshit.